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They started out as online exclusives, but with more and more 'bed-in-a-box' mattresses available to test out in stores, now could be the time to buy one

More and more ‘online-exclusive’ brands are snuggling up with UK stores to bring their mattresses to the high street. Emma is the latest to announce that its mattress will soon be available to test out in DFS stores – and it’s at a discount price.

Bed-in-a-box mattresses have boomed in popularity in recent years, and some of them have performed very well in our testing. Most come with a 100-night trial, meaning you can return it for free if it doesn’t suit you, but despite that, we know that many of you would still rather try a mattress in person before making your decision.

So which other mattress retailers are now stocking online mattresses, where are the discounts and – most importantly – are bed-in-a-box mattresses any good?

Scroll down to see where to find them and whether there are any deals available. Or head straight to our mattress reviews to find out how they fare in our independent tests.

The Emma Mattress: now at DFS

Although the DFS website calls it The Emma Mattress, the furniture store is actually selling The Emma Hybrid. This model includes a layer of mini pocket springs, in addition to the usual combination of foam and memory foam.

If you buy from DFS, the double-sized mattress costs £599, £100 less than it does if you buy directly from Emma. The 100-night trial period will still be in effect, so if you aren’t satisfied with it in that time you’ll be able to return the mattress for a full refund.

The brand’s hero model, The Emma Original, is only available direct from Emma’s website for £649. It doesn’t have the extra layer of pocket springs, instead opting for a strong foam base with seven different support zones and a breathable memory foam top layer.

Eve mattresses: at Dreams, Debenhams and Next Home

Distinctively yellow-trimmed Eve mattresses are the most widely available of all boxed mattress brands on the high street.

They’re available to try out and buy in Dreams, Debenhams and Next Home stores.

Both the Eve Hybrid and Eve Original are £100 cheaper when bought from Next than they are directly from Eve. At Next, you’ll pay £399 for the double Hybrid mattress and £499 for the memory-foam Original. The Original is £499 at Dreams, too.

But is this deal a steal? Read our full review of The Eve Hybrid before buying to check whether you’ll be getting your money’s worth.

Eve regularly changes the exact composition and combination of foam and memory foam in its mattresses, which means we don’t have an up-to-date review of the Eve Original. We’ll be reviewing the newest version later this year – come back to see the results of our rigorous lab test.

Simba mattress: at John Lewis

Simba’s mattress is available to try out in John Lewis stores. At £599, it costs the same as it would if you bought direct from Simba’s website. But you will get to try it out in store, and you’ll still get the 100-night trial period.

Simba, unlike the online mattress brands mentioned so far, has just one mattress – the Simba Hybrid. It uses a precise combination of memory foam, foam and a thin layer of pocket springs, in the hopes of offering you your best ever night’s sleep.

In April 2018, we asked mattress owners to tell us what they think of the brands they own. Visit our page on Simba mattresses to see whether it lives up to its customers’ expectations.

Casper mattresses: only available online

Casper is the only major bed-in-a-box brand not in partnership with any high street store.

It has opened a few stores of its own in cities across the US, but doesn’t have any in the UK.

To help make the right choice without trying a mattress in advance, make sure you read our full Casper mattress review. Plus, find out how real Casper customers rate its mattresses for comfort, value for money and more in our guide to Casper mattresses.

What about the 100-night trial?

The famous long trial periods for the mattresses above all still apply whether you buy online or in a store.

It should be the best of both worlds: trying in-store will hopefully help to minimise the chances of you needing to returning the mattress, as you’ll have a better idea of what you’re getting. Then trying it out at home will give you a fuller and more realistic view of what it’s like to live with.

A great mattress should stay at its best for years to come. In our lab, we simulate years of use before checking for sagging and loss of support. So check our reviews to find out which ones will stay comfortable and supportive long after your 100-night trial is over.

We’ve found 25 Best Buy mattresses, which should support your spine for years to come. Head to our Best Buy mattresses round-up to see which online mattress brands make the cut.

The best and worst places to buy a mattress

Buying a mattress can be an arduous journey, with a volume of confusing and conflicting information available both online and in-store. Even after deciding on your perfect mattress, organising delivery to your front door can be expensive, and then even late.

That’s why we annually run a survey to find out which mattress retailers impress customers and offer quality advice, easy delivery, and value for money.